Dispenser for canned liquids



Jan. 15, 1957 M. WILLIS DISPENSER FOR CANNED LIQUIDs Filed June 4, 1954 4 a 1, LL

vll/11111 INVENTOR.

#7a rw n M//zlf BY 4 1 rah/5)( nited States The invention described herein pertains to a cover adapted to tit over the top of a liquid-filled can, the cover including sharp spikes by means of which the ltop of the can may be perforated. The spikes are hollow so as to form tubular ports, either one of them being adapted to serve, alternately, as an outlet for the liquid contained in the can, while the other serves to admit air into the can.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple closure, having the form of a letter T in which the stem of said T-formation serves as an arm for actuating said closure, while the end portions of the cross-bar in said T-formation serve as means for closing or opening, alternately, the above-said tubular ports.

A further object of the invention is to provide said closure in combination with a stopper which will limit the rotary movement of the closure either to a position when the ports will be fully closed or to a position when said ports will be fully open.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover with a closure of a simple construction but fully practical for the purpose for which it has been designed, and one which will be compact and capable of being produced economically.

This and other features of the invention will become clearly understood in the light of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the cover, including my closure;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the cover, but with the closure in a different operative position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cover, including my closure.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The cover, which is generally identilied by numeral 10, is made of any suitable material, but preferably out of a plastic, and includes a flat, circular top 11 and a cylindrical wall 12 depending downwardly from the peripheral portion of said top. The latter, which is considerably thicker than the wall 12, is provided with two circular apertures 13, these being disposed in a diametrical alinement and being spaced from each other and from the rim of said top.

Secured against movement and displacement in each aperture is a spike 14 which is tubular in form and open at both ends, the upper end of the spike being flush with the surface of the top 11. The lower portion of the spike is cut oi at a sharp angle, so that the spike terminates with a sharp, piercing point 15. To prevent displacement of the spikes upwardly, especially when the cover is forced downwardly against the top of a can to force the points of the spikes through the top wall of the can, each spike is provided with an annular washer 16 bearing against the lower surface of the top 11 of the cover 10.

To keep the cover at a level position on said top, I employ two pads 30 which are cemented to the underside of y 2,777,609 APatented Jan. l5,

the cover, as shown in Fig. 3, on a line at right angle to the diameter which passes through the spikes.

To conclude the description of the cover, I wish to add that right in its center they top 11 contains a circular bore 17.

Mounted upon said top 11 is a closure generally identiied by numeral 18. The closure consists of a ilat bar 19 disposed diametrically upon the top 11 and secured theret0 by means of a pin 20. For that purpose, said bar is provided, midway its length, with an aperture 21. The pin, which passes through said aperture, passes also through the bore 17 in the top 11 and terminates at the upper end with a head 22 and at the lower end with a disk-like member 23.

The connection of the closure to the top 11 by means of said pin is such that the closure may be freely turned about said pin in a limited rotary movement. Extending from the mid-portion of Vthe bar 19, at right angle therefrom, is a fiat operating arm Z4 which is disposed in the plane of said bar 19 and terminates at its outer end adjoining the rim of the top with a finger-piece 25. The latter rises upwardly from the arm and is secured thereto in any suitable manner.

Normally, the bar 19 lies over both the upper openings of the tubular spikes 14, as shown in Fig. 1 where said openings are shown in dotted lines. It will be obvious that to uncover said openings it will be necessary to impart to the har 19 a rotary movement about the pin 20 in either direction, clockwise or counter-clockwise. To limit the extent of the movement, l have provided the topV with a stopper 26, this being but a small block secured to the top 11 or integrally formed therein, the block being located between the operating arm 24 and one end portion of the bar 19, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The operation of the closure is quite simple. As stated above, said bar 19, while in its normal position, covers the openings at the top of both spikes. Assuming that the cover 10 is seated upon a can, which is not shown, and that the spikes have been thrust downwardly till they have perforated the top of the can, all that needs to oe done to uncover said openings is to swivel the bar 19 out of its diametrical alinement with the spikes 14. This, obviously, may be done with the aid of the operating arm 24 by means of which the bar 19 may be swung about the pin 2li in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be noted that the extent of the movement of the bar 19 about said pin 2li will be limited by said block 26 when one end portion ofthe bar will encounter said block. A swing of the bar in the opposite direction till the operating arm 24 will have encountered the same block from the opposite side will serve to bring the bar again over the upper openings in said spikes 14, as shown in Fig. l. Thus, the swing of the bar 19 in one direction will uncover the spikes and the openings therein, while the swing in the opposite direction Will again cover said openings. in either case, the extent of the rotary movement will be such that at one extreme of said movement the openings in the spikes will be fully open, and at the other extreme of said movement the openings in said spikes will be fully covered by said bar 19.

After having described the improvement, what l wish to claim is as follows:

l. ln a cover for the upper end of a liquid-containing can, which cover includes, a at, circular top having two tubular spikes arranged in a diametrical alinement and depending from the top downwardly for entry into the can, the upper ends of the spikes being open and being ilush with the upper surface of said cover, a at bar diametrically disposed on the top and being pivotally connected, midway its length, to the center thereof, the end portions of the bar normally covering the upper ends of the spikes, and a horizontal operating arm eX- [Cel 2. In a cover for thel *upper*y end of a can containing Ya. liquid, saidA cover including a circular topV provided with two tubular spikes extending downwardly therefrom but having upper ends open at the level of the upper surface of the top, in combination with said top, a at bar disposed diametrically thereon and provided with an aperture midway its length, a pin passing through said aperture and secured in a vertical position to the center of the top to permit a rotary movement of the bar about said pin, an operative arm extending from the midportion of the bar at right angle therefrom to the periphery of the top, a stop block mounted on said top between the arm and one end portion of the bar, and a fingerpiece on the outer end of the arm for manual operation thereof, the bar being normally disposed over the tops of the spikes to cover openings therein, but being adapted to be yswung therefrom by means of said arm to simultaneously uncover the top openings of both of said spikes.

3. In a can cover having a circular top and provided with two diametrically alined spikes for the perforation of the top wall of the can, the spikes having `open upper portions imbedded in the top, a closure having the form of a letter T, the closure including a flat bar diametrically disposed on the top and pivotally mounted thereon midway its length for rotation about the center of said top, the end portions of the bar normally covering the upper ends of the spikes, an operating arm Vintegrally formed with said bar the bar forming a stern of the T-formation and radially extending from said bar a stop member projecting Vover the upper surface of the top and located between the arm and one end portion of the bar to be in the path of the rotary movement of Said bar to stop the extent of said movement, and a finger-piece on said arm for the manual operation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

